[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 13 (Monday, January 28, 2008)]
[House]
[Pages H468-H470]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 COMMENDING THE WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY MOUNTAINEER FOOTBALL TEAM FOR 
                 WINNING THE 2008 TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL

  Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and agree to 
the resolution (H. Res. 938) commending the West Virginia University 
Mountaineer football team for exemplifying the pride, determination, 
and spirit of the Mountain State and overcoming adversity with skill, 
commitment, and teamwork to win the 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, as 
amended.
  The Clerk read the title of the resolution.
  The text of the resolution is as follows:

                              H. Res. 938

       Whereas the West Virginia University Mountaineer football 
     team won the 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, defeating the 
     University of Oklahoma Sooners by a score of 48 to 28 in 
     Glendale, Arizona, on January 2, 2008;
       Whereas the Mountaineer football team has been a source of 
     great pride for West Virginians throughout the years;
       Whereas the people of West Virginia take their team's 
     triumphs and setbacks as their own, in times of hardship and 
     prosperity;
       Whereas the Mountaineers displayed uncommon intensity and 
     determination in preparing for the challenge of meeting one 
     of the best teams in the country in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl;
       Whereas the Mountaineers executed an almost flawless game;
       Whereas then-assistant coach Bill Stewart demonstrated true 
     leadership and coaching

[[Page H469]]

     skill by filling an unexpected coaching void, instilling 
     confidence in his team, and leading them to victory, earning 
     the admiration and gratitude of his fellow West Virginians;
       Whereas the Fiesta Bowl Most Valuable Player on offense, 
     Mountaineer quarterback Pat White, gave a brilliant running 
     and passing performance that inspired his teammates, 
     delighted his fans, and frustrated his opponents;
       Whereas the Fiesta Bowl Most Valuable Player on defense, 
     Mountaineer linebacker and native West Virginian Reed 
     Williams, led his teammates in an outstanding defensive 
     performance;
       Whereas Mountaineer senior fullback Owen Schmitt, through 
     his steady play and gracious post-game words of victory, 
     displayed the best qualities of team play and sportsmanship;
       Whereas Mountaineer receiver Tito Gonzales demonstrated 
     outstanding play with a 79-yard touchdown pass and showed a 
     national television audience how important Mountaineer 
     success was to his team and his State;
       Whereas Mountaineer freshman tailback Noel Devine gave a 
     spirited and skillful performance worthy of his injured 
     teammate and mentor, record-breaking tailback Steve Slaton;
       Whereas the Mountaineers' offensive line dominated the 
     battle in the trenches, making possible the outstanding 
     performances of White, Devine, Schmitt, receiver Darius 
     Reynaud, kicker Pat McAfee, and the other offensive stars of 
     the day;
       Whereas the Mountaineers' attacking defense forced the 
     Sooner offense to yield the field time and again;
       Whereas the Mountaineers finished among the top 10 in 
     college football rankings for 3 years in a row;
       Whereas Mountaineer athletic director Ed Pastilong has 
     instilled in the athletic department of West Virginia 
     University the highest standards of ethics and performance 
     throughout his many years of leadership; and
       Whereas the Mountaineers and their new head coach Bill 
     Stewart have brought great honor to themselves, their 
     university, and the State of West Virginia: Now, therefore, 
     be it
       Resolved, That the House of Representatives--
       (1) congratulates the West Virginia University Mountaineer 
     football team for winning the 2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl; and
       (2) commends the team for demonstrating throughout the 
     season the best qualities of teamwork, dedication, and 
     sportsmanship.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire) and the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. 
Boustany) each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania.


                             General Leave

  Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, I request 5 legislative days during which 
Members may insert material relevant to H. Res. 938 into the Record.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania?
  There was no objection.
  Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  (Mr. ALTMIRE asked and was given permission to revise and extend his 
remarks.)
  Mr. ALTMIRE. Today I rise to congratulate the West Virginia 
University Mountaineers for their amazing win in the 2008 Fiesta Bowl.
  Four short weeks ago, West Virginia University captured its third 
consecutive bowl victory and cemented their third consecutive top 10 
finish. They defeated the University of Oklahoma Sooners 48-28. College 
football fans throughout the Nation were treated to an exceptional 
college football game.
  I want to extend my congratulations to West Virginia head coach Bill 
Stewart, athletic director Ed Pastilong, West Virginia University 
president Mike Garrison, and West Virginia's student athletes for 
winning the Fiesta Bowl.
  I also want to extend my congratulations to the Oklahoma Sooners and 
their student athletes for a great season. Oklahoma won the Big 12 
championship game and had an 11-2 regular season record.
  The WVU Mountaineers were pregame underdogs against No. 3 ranked 
Oklahoma, whose defense had previously allowed only 92 yards a game. 
The exceptional play of Mountaineer quarterback Pat White, the Fiesta 
Bowl offensive MVP, helped the Mountaineers produce 525 yards of total 
offense. Reed Williams, the Mountaineer linebacker and Fiesta Bowl 
defensive MVP, helped his teammates hold the Sooners to only six points 
in the first half and a total of 28 points for the game.
  Mr. Speaker, once again I congratulate the West Virginia Mountaineers 
for their success.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  I rise today in support of House Resolution 938, commending the West 
Virginia University Mountaineer football team for exemplifying the 
pride, determination, and spirit of the Mountain State and overcoming 
adversity with skill, commitment, and teamwork to win the 2008 Tostitos 
Fiesta Bowl.
  Throughout the years, the Mountaineer football team has been a source 
of great pride for West Virginians, and this past year proved no 
different. On January 2, 2008, the West Virginia University Mountaineer 
football team won the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, defeating the University of 
Oklahoma Sooners by a score of 48-28 in Glendale, Arizona.
  After what could have been a team demoralizing loss of head coach 
Rich Rodriguez, then assistant coach Bill Stewart stepped up to 
demonstrate true leadership and coaching skill by instilling confidence 
in his team and leading them to victory, earning the admiration and 
gratitude of his fellow West Virginians.
  Mountaineer quarterback Pat White gave a dazzling running and passing 
performance that inspired his teammates, delighted WVU fans, frustrated 
his opponents, and earned him offensive MVP honors. Defensive honors 
went to Mountaineer linebacker and native West Virginian Reed Williams, 
who led his team in an outstanding defensive performance.
  With the conclusion of an impressive 11-2 season, the Mountaineers 
finished among the top 10 in college football rankings for a third 
consecutive year, and with their new head coach Bill Stewart, brought 
great honor to themselves, their university, and the State of West 
Virginia.
  High marks should also be given to athletic director Ed Pastilong, 
who, over his 19-year career, has instilled the athletic department of 
West Virginia University with the highest standards of ethics and 
performance. We should also recognize WVU president Mike Garrison for 
his leadership. WVU is committed to changing lives and providing 
opportunities to all through education, building knowledge through 
research, and serving the people of West Virginia through economic 
development and health care.
  I extend my congratulations to head coach Bill Stewart and all the 
hardworking players, the fans, and to West Virginia University. I'm 
happy to join my good friend and colleague Representative Mollohan in 
honoring this exceptional team and all of its accomplishments and wish 
all involved continued success. And I ask my colleagues to support this 
resolution.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, we have a colleague who represents 
Morgantown, West Virginia, with us, Mr. Mollohan, and I know there is 
no greater fan of the West Virginia Mountaineers than he. I am sure he 
is justifiably proud; so I will yield him such time as he may consume.
  Mr. MOLLOHAN. I want to thank both my colleagues for their very kind, 
gracious remarks about West Virginia University and the game that we 
speak of today, particularly the Fiesta Bowl game.
  Mr. Speaker, I rise today in support of H. Res. 938, congratulating 
the West Virginia University Mountaineer football team for its recent 
outstanding Fiesta Bowl victory.
  The Mountaineers' regular season closed with an unexpected and a bit 
demoralizing loss that ended the team's bid for a national 
championship. As a further complication, as has been pointed out by my 
colleagues, the team began preparation for the Fiesta Bowl without its 
head coach, who left suddenly for another opportunity. WVU consequently 
was branded the underdog for the Fiesta Bowl appearance.
  But these young men and the able interim head coach, who is now the 
permanent head coach, who stepped into the void were steady, they were 
confident, and they were prepared to pursue a game plan unaffected by 
the swirling controversies and the many media pundits who predicted 
defeat.

                              {time}  1515

  Mr. Speaker, seeing that team demonstrate grit, skill, and 
determination,

[[Page H470]]

as described by my colleagues, to silence its critics, while overcoming 
challenges, reminds us of the potential for accomplishment that resides 
in us all. I hope all of my colleagues will join me in supporting H. 
Res. 938, as it offers a ``well done'' to a team that set a high bar 
for accomplishment, focus, and determination.
  Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to yield such time as she may 
consume to my colleague, the gentlewoman from West Virginia (Mrs. 
Capito).
  Mrs. CAPITO. Mr. Speaker, I'd like to thank the gentleman for 
yielding me time. I would like to thank my colleague from West Virginia 
(Mr. Mollohan) for offering this resolution and including me as one of 
the cosponsors.
  We are very prideful Mountaineers. As we have heard, our West 
Virginia Mountaineers football team is something that everyone in the 
State takes great pride. The Tostitos Fiesta Bowl win was not only an 
athletic win, but it was a morale-lifting win for everybody in the 
State of West Virginia. The Oklahoma Sooners are a powerful team, and I 
congratulate them for their effort. But when mind and body of a 
Mountaineer gets together, there's hardly any stopping us. I think that 
is what we found at the game. The team always tries to embody the 
spirit of the Mountain State, and it is a shining light for the people 
of West Virginia. The fans, the coaches, the university, the president, 
the athletic director, and I have to mention the pride of West 
Virginia, our Mountaineers marching band, are something that I know 
took our teammates into a very difficult athletic and emotional 
situation at the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
  I also want to congratulate the MVPs, Pat White and Reed Williams. 
Reed Williams is a native West Virginian. He's from Moorefield, West 
Virginia. He was valedictorian of his high school class. He is the true 
embodiment of a student athlete.
  We have a saying in West Virginia that we like to say whenever we 
have a great victory, and that is, as we say in West Virginia, ``It's a 
great day to be a Mountaineer.'' It certainly was on the day that West 
Virginia won the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl in Arizona.
  Mr. BOUSTANY. Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  Mr. ALTMIRE. Mr. Speaker, just to tie this whole thing together, we 
have just celebrated the LSU Tigers' national championship and West 
Virginia's championship in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. As a Member from 
western Pennsylvania, I would like to take a brief moment and remind my 
colleagues of the role the University of Pittsburgh played in this 
whole scenario, because were it not for the improbable upset that the 
University of Pittsburgh was able to pull off on the last game of the 
regular season, we may have been doing these in a little bit different 
order than we were today. So I congratulate West Virginia and LSU. But 
I did want to put in that plug as well.
  Mr. Speaker, I yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from Pennsylvania (Mr. Altmire) that the House suspend the 
rules and agree to the resolution, H. Res. 938, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds being in the affirmative) the 
rules were suspended and the resolution, as amended, was agreed to.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

                          ____________________